Adjustable platform structures for boats

ABSTRACT

A platform structure for a water structure surrounded by water is disclosed. The platform structure includes a set of inflatable sacks held in place by arm members which are hollow tubes rotatably attached to a hinge structure to a side of said water structure. The platform structure is especially designed to protect the water structure as well as other approaching water crafts from the impact of collisions. The arm members of the platform structure can also be used to tug floating platforms and various water crafts with minimal water drag. The platform structure can also be adjusted to function with a hinge structure installed at any of various heights on said water structure. The platform structure also has means to provide it with added stability on the water.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/751784, filed on Dec. 29, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of recreational equipment for water structures, such as pleasure boats, for supporting people on the water. More specifically, the present invention relates to a platform structure which is connected to a water structure such as to the side of a boat, and which pivots on a hinge structure from a generally vertical position above the water to a generally horizontal position floating on the water surface in which it presents generally horizontal and stable surfaces for supporting people. The platform structure is comprised of aluminum tubes and inflatable sacks, which cushioning surface protects boats from the impact of collisions with other approaching water crafts. The inflatable sacks can also be deflated and folded for convenient and compact storage inside the boat together with the rest of the assembly. Aternatively, the inflatable sacks can be deflated and stored away while the rest of the structure is used to tug small water crafts such as kayaks or jet skies. Yet another alternative would be to tug at least some of the inflatable sacks or at least part of the platform structure on the rear of the boat. The platform structure can be adjusted to perform its functions even when the hinge structure required to attach the platform structure to the boat is not installed at a precise standard altitude on the side wall of the boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] One object of the present invention is to provide a relatively stable above water platform structure with a cushioned and comfortable surface adjacent to a boat.

[0004] A further object of the present invention is to provide a platform structure which can be disassembled for convenient and compact storage.

[0005] An additional object of the present invention is to provide a platform structure which provides the foregoing benefits while allowing assembly and disassembly without the users entering the water.

[0006] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a save platform for dockage of small craft contiguous to a boat, with means to protect both the boat and the small craft from the impact of collisions.

[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the facility to tug from a boat the platform structure itself or other small crafts with minimal water resistance.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which provides the foregoing benefits and which can be adjusted to perform its functions even when the hinge structure required to attach the platform structure to the boat is not installed at a precise standard altitude on the side wall of the boat. The platform structure can thus be adjusted to function with imprecise installations on the side wall of the boat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The object, advantage and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a pair of hinge tubes with a perpendicular fulcrum segment which is a hollow cylindrical tube with openings on both ends. The hinge tubes are removably attached to circular plates.

[0011]FIG. 2 shows the hinge tubes attached to the circular plates.

[0012]FIG. 3 shows a boat with two pairs of hinge tubes attached to corresponding circular plates, adhered to the rear and to a side of the boat. The plates are adhered to the side walls of the boat with plastic cement or other bonding products available on the market.

[0013]FIG. 4 shows a pair of arm members, each arm member assembled with four separate segments, three of which are inflatable sack fastening segments. The other segment has a horizontally bent portion which extends slidably into a corresponding cylindrical fulcrum segment of a hinge tube.

[0014]FIG. 5 shows the arm members illustrated in FIG. 4 but with the horizontally bent cylindrical portion of one of its segments extended slidably into the fulcrum segments of the hinge tubes adhered to a side wall of a boat. As said horizontally bent cylindrical portions rotate within the hollow cylindrical fulcrum segments of the hinge tubes, the three inflatable sack fastening segments pivot to a generally upright position as shown.

[0015]FIG. 6 shows the assembly illustrated in FIG. 5 but with the inflatable sack fastening segments attaching another short segment and three separate inflatable sacks.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a cut away view of of one of the three inflatable sacks shown on FIG. 6 and the belts with which it is attached to loops on the pair of arm members shown on FIG. 4.

[0017]FIG. 8 again shows the assembly of FIG. 6 but this time on a fully deployed mode, floating on the water to a side of the boat. Boaters can rotate the assembly from the upright orientation of FIG. 6 to the deployed mode of this FIGURE by pushing it away from the boat.

[0018]FIG. 9 shows how the assembly can be optionally equipped with stabilizers with cushioned ends which bump against a side wall of the boat when the platform structure is tilted either towards or away from the boat.

[0019]FIG. 10 illustrates how the stabilizers shown on FIG. 9 can be retracted when not in use.

[0020]FIG. 11 shows how the platform structure can be tugged on the rear of the boat with its proximal portion over the surface of the water.

[0021]FIG. 12 shows that the platform structure can be tugged as shown on FIG. 11 but without one of its inflatable sacks to provide space for the outboard motor on the rear of the boat.

[0022]FIG. 13 shows that the assembly of FIG. 12 can also be used as a reduced floating platform on the rear of the outboard motor.

[0023]FIG. 14 shows that part of the assembly can also be used to tug a kayack or other small craft on the rear of the boat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0025] Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0026]FIG. 1 shows a pair of hinge tubes 2 with a flat circular base 3 having a series of holes 4 circling a segment 5 connected to said circular base. Each hinge tube also has a perpendicular fulcrum segment 6 which is a hollow cylindrical tube extending generally horizontally with openings 7 on both ends. Each hole 4 on the base of the hinge tubes 2 coincides with another threaded hole 9 on a separate bigger circular plate 8 so as to fit on each said hole a small bolt 10 with which to attach removably hinge tubes 2 to plates 8. FIG. 1 also shows that if small arrows 11 protruding from opposite sides of the pair of plates 8 are aligned with each other, as evidenced by intermittent line 51 drawn on a side wall 50 of the boat (not shown), fulcrum segments 6 will likewise be aligned and directed towards each other when hinge tubes 2 are attached to plates 8.

[0027]FIG. 2 shows hinge tubes 2 attached to circular plates 8 with bolts 10.

[0028]FIG. 3 shows a boat 100 with pairs of hinge tubes 2 perfectly aligned with each other and attached removably to corresponding plates 8, adhered to the rear and to a side of the boat. The plates are adhered to the side walls of the boat with plastic cement or other bonding products available on the market. Said plates are preferably adhered at an altitude on the side wall of the boat 100 over the surface of the water, but can also be adhered underwater.

[0029]FIG. 4 shows two arm members 12 and 14, each one comprised of four separate aluminum segments A, B, C and D, constructed as cylindrical hollow tubes. All segments except segments A are inflatable sack fastening segments. Segments C and D are straight longitudinal tubes, attached removably to one another. A small portion of segments D is slidably received inside a small portion of segments C so that a bolt 15 can be fitted on coinciding threaded holes (not shown) on said segments. Segments B also have a straight longitudinal portion which is likewise attached removably to segments C with a bolt 15, but have a further vertically bent portion designed to extend slidably into the vertical portion of segments A, also having a horizontally bent portion designed to extend slidably into cylindrical fulcrum segments 6 of hinge tubes 2. The vertical portions of segments A and segments B have a number of holes. Segments A have one threaded hole, and Segments B three separate threaded holes each, which likewise serve to fit a bolt to attach segments B to segments A with a portion of the former slidably received inside a portion of the latter. The holes on segments B are numbered 18, 19 and 20. The hole on segments A is numbered 21. The bolt can be fitted on hole 18 of segments B and hole 21 of segments A, or hole 19 of segments B and hole 21 of segments A, or hole 20 of segments B and hole 21 of segments A. If the bolt is fitted on hole 18 of segments B and hole 21 of segments A as in FIG. 4, the assembly is extended as the vertical distance between the horizontally bent portion of segments A and segments B is increased. Conversely, if the bolt were to be fitted instead on hole 20 of segments B and hole 21 of segments A said vertical distance would be reduced to the point where the assembly would be fully contracted. The assembly can be so extended or contracted to adjust within a certain range the depth of inflatable sack fastening segments B, C and D as they are pivoted to a horizontal orientation underwater. See FIG. 8. It could be necessary to adjust the depth of segments B, C and D as they are oriented underwater if plates 8, and thus hinge tubes 2 attached thereto, are mistakenly adhered to the side wall of the boat 100 at the wrong altitude and fulcrum segments 6 are therefore affixed higher or lower than expected.

[0030]FIG. 5 shows inflatable sack fastening segments B, C and D of arm members 12 and 14 in an upright position with their horizontally bent cylindrical portion of segments A slided inside cylindrical fulcrum segments 6 of hinge tubes 2 attached to side wall 50 of the boat 100. A small pin 22 resting on hole 23 at the end of each horizontally bent portion of segments A prevents said horizontally bent portion from sliding off fulcrum segments 6 while at the same time allowing said horizontally bent portions to rotate within said fulcrum segments so that inflatable sack fastening segments B, C, and D can pivot between a vertical and a horizontal orientation.

[0031]FIG. 6 then shows the assembly of FIG. 5 with three separate but identical inflatable sacks 34, 36, and 38 and an additional short segment 66 to form the platform structure 101. Each inflatable sack has a pair of short belts 40 and 41 on one side and a single large belt 42 on an opposite side. Short belts 40 and 41 are of the same size in all three inflatable sacks and their purpose is not only to fasten the sacks to loops 44 and 45 on segments B, C and D of arm member 12 but also to align each sack with the other two sacks as the sacks are fastened. Said short belts, one on the left of each loop 44 and the other on the right of each loop 45, are designed to be fastened with buckles 53 sewn to the inflatable sacks on the same side of the loops where said short belts are sewn. In contrast, single large belt 42, sewn to the side of the inflatable sacks opposite to where the two short belts are sewn, is designed not only to fasten the sack to loop 48 on segments B, C and D of arm member 14 but also, as can be more clearly seen on FIG. 7, to do so even as the separation between hinge tubes 2, and thus between arm members 12 and 14 attached thereto, varies within a certain range, as a result of plates 8 being mistakenly adhered to the side wall of the boat 100 with the wrong separation between them. This relatively large belt 42 is wrapped around loop 48 on segments B, C, and D of arm member 14 and fastened with buckle 55 on the side of loop 48 opposite to where said belt 42 is sewn, to thus exert pressure from two opposite sides of loop 48. All said short belts 40 and 41 and large belts 42 are sewn to the side of the inflatable sacks which faces the water when the assembly is pivoted downward as in FIG. 8.

[0032]FIG. 6 further shows that inflatable sacks 34, 36 and 38 can also be fastened together with a tensioned rope 83, passing through loops 82 on said sacks, and that arm members 12 and 14 can be joined together by a short longitudinal segment 66. Said short segment 66 is attached removably to each segment B to provide added firmness and stability on the water to the whole platform structure 101.

[0033]FIG. 7 is a cut away view of inflatable sack 34 as it is fastened by short belts 40 and 41 to loops 44 and 45 of segment B of arm member 12, and by large belt 42 to loop 48 of segment B of arm member 14. In this drawing the middle portion of large belt 42 is wrapped around said loop 48, while equal portions of the belt remain stretched on both the left and the right side of said loop. However, if plates 8 were to be mistakenly adhered to a side wall of the boat 100 with a shorter separation between them than the recommended one, and hinge tubes 2 and arm members 12 and 14 attached thereto were consequently nearer to each other than expected, the portion of belt 42 wrapped around loop 48 would end up being the one closer to buckle 55 and not the middle portion thereof. Conversely, if plates 8 were to be mistakenly adhered to a side wall of the boat 100 with a greater separation between them than the recommended one, and hinge tubes 2 and arm members 12 and 14 attached thereto were consequently farther away from each other than expected, the portion of belt 42 wrapped around loop 48 would end up being the one farther away from said buckle 55 and not the middle portion thereof.

[0034]FIG. 8 shows the platform structure 101 in a fully deployed mode on the water, after being pushed away from the side of the boat 100. Inflatable sacks 34, 36 and 38 float on the water as short belts 40 and 41 and large belts 42 attach the loops on aluminum segments B, C and D of arm members 12 and 14 (not shown) under the surface of the water. These aluminum segments are extended in a generally horizontal orientation parallel to each other and beneath the floating inflatable sacks so that approaching water crafts can not collide directly against them and damage the platform structure 101 and perhaps the side wall of the boat 100. Arm members 12 and 14 are thus distanced from the edges of the platform structure 101 except the one facing the boat 100. Flexible retreval lines 13 are tied to securing loops 16 on inflatable sack 38 and extend into the boat 100 for pulling the distal portion of the platform structure 101 out of the water and towards the boat 100 for disassembly.

[0035]FIG. 9 shows the assembly without the three inflatable sacks and segments B, C and D of arm members 12 and 14 extended outwardly under the water from the side of the boat 100. Segments B of arm members 12 and 14 are shown attaching additional segments which can be optionally assembled to provide added stability on the water to the platform structure 101. Among these additional components are cylindrical stabilizers 60 attached removably under segments B. Each of these stabilizers has a cushioned end 61 which bumps against side wall 50 of the boat 100 every time the weight on top of the platform structure 101 is overly concentrated on the distal portion of said platform, thus tilting it with segments D of arm members 12 and 14 further underwater than segments B. As cushioned end 61 of stabilizers 60 then bumps against the side wall of the boat, the tilted platform structure 101 recovers its stability or at least stops inclining further.

[0036]FIG. 9 also illustrates another stabilizer 62 with a cushioned end 63, which likewise bumps against the side wall of the boat every time strong waves or winds lift slightly the distal portion of the platform structure and tilts it in the opposite direction. This other stabilizer 62 is attached removably with a bolt 15 fitted on a threaded hole on longitudinal segment 66 attached to segments B of arm members 12 and 14. A main advantage of these stabilizers is that their operation does not require any attachment or work done on the side wall of the boat.

[0037]FIG. 10 then shows that stabilizers 60 can be retracted under segments B of arm members 12 and 14 and their cushioned end 61 distanced from the side wall of the boat when not in use (and extended outwardly again towards said side wall to be used). This is accomplished by sliding each stabilizer 60 away from (or towards) the side wall of the boat 100 and then fitting a bolt on a selected hole on said stabilizers 60, to lock the stabilizers with the same bolt passing through a coinciding threaded hole on hollow cylindrical tubes 70 attached underneath segments B. A small portion of stabilizers 60 carrying cushioned end 61 can also be retracted (or extended outwardly) with a rotatable joint 71. FIG. 10 further shows that stabilizer 62 is telescopic and thus can also be retracted and its cushioned end 63 distanced from the side wall of the boat when not in use (and extended upwardly again towards said side wall to be used). Alternatively, all three stabilizers can be removed and stored away.

[0038]FIG. 11 shows the platform structure 101 attached to the pair of hinge tubes 2 on the rear of boat 100 Here the platform structure is inclined with its proximal portion over the surface of the water, and the vertical portion of segments B of arm members 12 and 14 retracted inside the vertical portion of segments A. In this position the platform structure can be pulled or tugged with minimal water resistance.

[0039]FIG. 12 shows that inflatable sack 34 can be removed from the assembly and short segment 66 located further to the rear of segments B of arm members 12 and 14 to provide space for outdoor motor 90 on the rear of boat 102. In this drawing the vertical portion of segments B is also fully retracted inside the vertical portion of segments A to raise the proximal portion of inflatable sack 36 over the surface of the water and tug with minimal water drag two of the three inflatable sacks of the platform structure.

[0040]FIG. 13 then shows that with inflatable sack 34 removed the reduced platform structure can still be used as a stable floating platform on the rear of outboard motor 90. In this drawing the vertical portion of segments B is extended out of the vertical portion of segments A to lower the proximal portion of inflatable sack 36 and allow inflatable sacks 36 and 38 to float horizontally on the water as the boat is stationed.

[0041]FIG. 14 shows arm members 12 and 14 attached to the pair of hinge tubes 2 on the rear of boat 102 and outdoor motor 90, with the vertical portion of segments B of said arm members retracted inside the vertical portion of segments A. In this drawing the inflatable sacks are replaced by a kayak 87 which is attached with ropes 93 to loops 80 on not one but two short segments 66 attached removably to arm members 12 and 14. One short segment 66 is attached to segments B and the other said short segment 66 to segments D. The kayak can thus be tugged with minimal water resistance with its proximal portion over the surface of the water.

[0042] While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended. 

I claim as my invention:
 1. A device designed to provide at least part of the stability of a stationed boat or other stationed water structure to at least one floating platform, comprising: an arm structure rotatably attached to a hinge structure on a side of said boat or other water structure; and wherein at least a portion of said floating platform has a cushioning surface to protect said boat or other water structure as well as other approaching water crafts from the impact of collisions; and wherein said arm structure can be adjusted to function with a hinge structure installed at any of various altitudes on said boat or other water structure.
 2. An apparatus designed to provide at least part of the stability of a stationed boat or other stationed water structure to at least one floating platform, comprising: an arm structure rotatably attached to a hinge structure on a side of said boat or other water structure; and wherein at least a portion of said floating platform has a cushioning surface to protect said boat or other water structure as well as other approaching water crafts from the impact of collisions; and wherein the apparatus includes means to stabilize the floating platform with one or more devices which bump against a side wall of the boat or other water structure.
 3. A device designed to provide at least part of the stability of a stationed boat or other stationed water structure to at least one floating platform, comprising: at least two arm members rotatably attached to a hinge structure on a side of said boat or other water structure; at least one inflatable sack; and means to attach said inflatable sack to said arm members even when the separation between said arm members varies within a given range.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein said means to provide stability on the water to the floating platform does not require any attachment or work done on any of the side walls of the boat or other water structure.
 5. The device of claim 2, wherein said device can be conveniently retracted when not in use.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the arm structure can be adjusted to perform at least two different functions, one such function being to provide at least part of the stability of the boat or other water structure to the floating platform, and another function being to tug said floating platform with its proximal portion over the surface of the water.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said arm structure is comprised of at least two arm members, part of which submerge under the surface of the water when the floating platform is deployed. 